Profit, conveniency, and pleasure, to the whole nation being a short rational discourse, lately presented to His Majesty, concerning the high-ways of England : their badness, the causes thereof, the reasons of those causes, the impossibility of ever having them well-mended according to the old way of mending, but may most certainly be done, and for ever so maintained (according to this new way) substantially, and with very much ease : and so that in the very depth of winter there shall not be much dirt, no deep-cart-rutts, or high-ridges, no holes, or vneven places, nor so much as a loose stone (the very worst of evils both to man and horse) in any of the horse-tracts, nor shall any person have cause to be once put out of his way in any hundred of miles riding.

A short glance of the Conveniences, Pro∣fits, and Pleasures of this Work, men∣tioning only some few.

THe Conveniences, Pleasures, and Profits of such a Work as this, arising to the whole Nation, must certainly be very many, and not easily apprehended, but by experience, and con∣sideration thereupon; I will only hint some few. As first,

The great pleasure and content which all Tra∣vellers must needs take by such cleanly, 1 smooth, straight, delightfull, and undistur'd Wayes, both Summer and Winter, Day or Night, without fear or danger, &c.

An ordinary Horse shall carry a man further than one of a far better price.

All Trades-men and others shall have their Com∣modities carried at a far easier price. 2

Most Commodities therefore must needs be cheaper.

Men may Ride Post safely so well by Night as by Day, 3 which in Summer time is to be chosen. 4

Post-Horses and Hackneys may well be afforded at easier Rates; so likewise Coaches.

The great destruction in laming Horses, 5 must needs be prevented: Horses therefore undoubted∣ly be cheaper.

Much Ground will be saved by this means; 6 And the length of all Long Journeys shortned. 7

Lastly, 8 There will be very much Corn saved from daily spoiling, which now cannot well be avoided.

But the vast Benefit of the Travellers Law will be so superabundantly satisfactory and contentive, 9 that the Good thereof cannot be expressed.

T'le therefore cease, only not cease to pray That I may live to see This happy Day: Not that I do desire so much to Live, As that Assistance to it I might give Before I dye, with all my wit and skill, Though it be small; yet wants not great good will, Nor Diligence, nor Care, nor faithfull Trust, And therein should be found exactly just. Not that I care an Officer to be, More than to give Directions, and to see That such a Work as This should no ways fail, If by my strictest care I could prevail: For without Care, and daily Diligence, All Labour's lost, all Cost, though vast, expence. Yet by my constant Day-man may be done; But otherwise, 'Tis not worth thinking on.

There's only One Thing yet worth think∣ing on;

To put This Work in Execution.

And if (by what has been Thus premised) so much notice may be taken of This Contrivance, by such Persons in Authority as may probably promote the Work, and set it on foot; the Contriver does not doubt but also (farther than he has yet ex∣pressed himself in this little Book) to adde Assist∣ance towards it, by finding out, or prompting unto a ready way, how to procure and raise a con∣siderable sum of Money towards the necessary ex∣pence thereof; without offering the least wrong, or violence to any Person, or his Purse.

For Money must be spent in the first Attempt, because the Wayes are so grosly foul and bad; al∣though afterwards an easie yearly Charge will un∣doubtedly serve towards their maintenance for ever.

And if (for an Experiment) a tryal might be made only for any one-half-hundred-miles, with a matter of 50 or 60 choice Labouring men; the Contriver would freely give his assistance to the Work, gratis, by beginning it, and putting them into the way, and setting a pattern. And if This may be as freely accepted of, as it is freely offered, there can (sure) be no hurt done at all.

Notes

• 1

  The Tra∣vellers plea∣sure and con∣tent.
• 2

  The Carri∣ages of all Commodities must needs be cheaper.
• 3

  Men may Ride safely in the dark.
• 4

  Hire of Post-Horses, Hack¦neys, and Coa∣ches cheaper.
• 5

  Preservati∣on of Horses, therefore cheaper.
• 6

  Much ground sav'd.
• 7

  Long Jour∣neys shortned.
• 8

  Much Corn sav'd from spoiling.
• 9

  The unex∣pressible be∣nefit to all Travellers.
• Note.
• Note.
• ☜